Engine crank shaft



Aug. 4, 1931. A. J. MEYER 8 ENGINE CRANK SHAFT Filed Nbv. 14. 1927INVENTOR. Mm ezlzleiygp ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANDRE J. MEYER, orDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CONTINENTAL MoToReoa- IORATION, orDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or VIRGINIA I ENGINE CRANK SHAFTApplication filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 232,982.

crankshaft in accordance with my invention resides in reducing thetorsional vibrations in the crankshaft.

In carrying out my invention I have illustrated an eight throwcrankshaft where. the center four throws lie in one plane with the endpairs of throws lying in one plane at right angles with the first plane.My invention is particularly adapted to a crankshaft having eight throwsarranged generally as aforesaid although the teachings of my in ventionmay be applied toother types of crankshafts having various arrangements,and numbers of throws and bearings as will be understood from thefollowing illustrative description.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation view of thecrankshaft,

Fig. 2 is a section view along the crankshaft cheeks indicated at 2-2 inFig 1,

Fig. 3 is a. section view along the crank-' shaft cheeks indicated at3-3 in Fig 1,

Fig. 4 is a section view along the crankshaft cheeks indicated at 44 inFig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the crankshaft.

Referring to the drawings the crankshaft A is provided with crank throws1, 2, 3, 4c, 5, 6, 7 8, and the crankshaft main bearings 9, 10, 11, 12and 13. The center four throws 3, 4, 5, and 6 lie in one plane and theend pairs of throws, 1,2 and 7, 8 lie in a plane at right angles withthe first plane. In order to reduce the size of the bearings 10, 11 and12 particularly as to their length, I

have provided counterbalancing means; for the crankshaft, counterweights14:, 15, 16, and

17 beingformed integrally with the throws or attached thereto adjacentthe throws 3, 4, V

5, and 6 respectively. The end pairs of throws 1, 2 and 3, 4 are notcounterbalanced.

Conditions of bearing load on the crankshaft A, for example, are worstat the center bearing 11 and by reason of the counterwei'ghtingarrangement the load on this bearing is minimized to the greatestextent. The bearing load on the intermediate bearings 10, 12 issubstantially less than that on bearing 11. By reason of myCOLIII'CQIWGlghtlIlgfifrangement, the load on these intermediatebearings is minimized to a less extentthan at the center crankshaftbearing, but the net load on'the center and intermediate bearings Theload on-the in engines,particularly for motor vehicles, it

is highly desirable to keep down the engine length, minimize torsionalvibrations, and at the same time provide ample bearing area for thecrankshaft loads. By my invention a compromise may be made betweena'completely counterbalanced chankshaft and a non-counterbalanced shaft,obtaining adequate counterbalancing, reducing torsional vibrations,minimizing the bearing idimensions and overall engine length, andsimplifying and cheapening the manufacture.

In practice I find it convenient and satisfactory from a standpoint. ofquantity pro- .duction to make the bearings '10, '11, and 12 of equaldimension, the compromise balancing obtained by the counterweightspermitting this desirable condition.

What I claim as my invention is:

1.-An internal combustion engine crank,-

shaft havingfour center throws in one plane and end pairs of throws'inasecond plane 7 right angleswith the-first plane; said crankshaft havingcenter, end, and intermediate coaxial bearing portions; said crankshaftbeing counterbalanced at the center'bearing portion to the greatestextent, and at the intermediate bearing portions to a lesser extent.

2. An internal combustion engine crankshaft having four center throws inone plane and end pairs of throws in a. second plane at right angleswith the first plane; said crankshaft. hhving amen; end, andintermediate coaxial bearing portions said crankshaft beingcounterbalanced at the center bearingportitiii toth greatest extent, andat the hitch mediate portions to a lesser extent;

and being substantially free from counter-- balancing at the end bearingportions? 3. An internal combustion engine crankshaft having a pluralityof tlir'ovvs and'coax bearings, and counterweights carried by onlyaportitin of" the throws and beingso distributed as to favor the centerportion to; the greatest, exten t and, the p ortions inter-me d-i atethecenter and ends to alesser extent; ,4 internal. combustion enginecrankhavingaplu -ality of throws andeoaxidl bearings, and counterweightscarried by a portion of the throws and being so distnibuted as to favorthe center portion tothe greatest extent and the portions intermediate.the center and; ends to a lesser extent the end portipn-s. topracticall-y no extent.

5 A]; internal combustion engine crank shaft having fouracenter throwsin one plane and: pairs of throws in a second plane at right angles withthe first plane; said crankshaft having center,- end andintercoaxialbearingporti ons; said crank shaft being counterbalanced; atthe center bearing-portion totjhe greatest extent, and at; theintermediate hearing portions to a Lesser extent; the said centerandintermediate, bearings having substantially equal lengths. V

6L An eight;- th row. engineerankshaft having; center, end, andintermediate; bearings; the first, second, seventh; and eighth throwsLying ina planeat' right angles with a plane containing the remainingthrows; crank cheeks, connecting the throws and bearings; the cheeks; toeither side of the" center bearing having counterweighted portions; theoutidfiqheeks of the third and sixth; throws having counterweighted'portions; the re:- niiiiiningcheeks being substantiallynoncounteiiweighted.

7? Aneight throw engine crankshaft having center end, and intermediatebearings; the" first, second, seventh; and eighth throvv's lying in aplane at right angles with" a plane containing the remaining throws;crank cheeks connecting thethrovvs and bearings; oli'e'eksto either sideof the" center bearii qhav ctuitaweigmed; portions; the out; e" v eks'of the third" and sixth throvvs g} coni t eif vveighted portions; theremeaning" heeks; being substantially nontcount rwei'gmed, the cent'efand intermediate bearings being of substantially equal dimenslons.

8. An internal combustion engine crankshaft having a plurality of throwsand coaxial bearings and counterweighting means distributed so as, tofavor the center portion of the crankshaft to the greatest extent andthe intermediate portions to less extent.

I 9. An internal combustion engine crankshaft having a plurality ofthrows and 60'- as bearings,- and counteriveighting means distributed soas to favor the center portion of the'cran'kshaft to the greatest extentand the intermediate portions to less extent, and tostill' les's extentthe end portions.

10,. A crankshaft for internal combustion engi i ies having a pluralityof throws and coaxial bearings, and counterWe-ights associated with onlya portion of said throws providing a comp-ro n'i-i-sebetween non-con aterbalanci-ngandfully counterbalancing,said

countereights being distributed so ast'O favor the center portion of thecrankshaft to thagreatest extent. a

In witness whereofil hereunto subscribe my na-me this 10th day ofNovember A. D. I 2 a v ANDRE J. MEYER.

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